Mission Light vs. Mission Deep



Switchbacks.  They are fun.  Adventurous.  When you're hiking or mountain climbing - it's the fast way to get where you are going.  Instead of following the trail all the way around, you take the short cut.  The problem is that it can get you in trouble.  It might put you on a different trail altogether, and 4 hours later - when you thought you were supposed to be at the top of a mountain, you find yourself miles away and lost.  It seems like we often fall to one extreme or the other - taking the switch back or staying so focused on the path so we don't accidentally take a switchback that we miss the beauty around.  Either way - we miss out.

As Matthew 5 continues, the Sermon on the Mount beautifully addresses both extremes, and all of us who fall somewhere in-between at the same time.  To those who say, we don't need the Law, Jesus gently (or ferociously) reminds us of the brokenness that happened at the fall.  We don't do relationships very well - and we need this gift He is giving to help.  To others who don't think that Jesus takes the law seriously enough?  Well...

This section of Matthew breaks down into 6 key teachings of Jesus, expounding on the Ten Commandments.  For those who grew up going to catechism or confirmation class, this teaching will sound incredibly familiar.  But as Jesus was teaching - this was mind-blowingly epic and a new thing!  Growing up, "catechism" was taught from an early age.  Instead of looking for the right answers, they were taught to ask good questions.  Wrestling with the Word of God, inside and out, backwards and forwards.  Thinking and logic were highly valued.  As of course was action - but with regards to accountability - you were held accountable for your actions, not necessarily your thoughts.  And so here we see Jesus, helping expand people's thought process on what it means to be disciples and kingdom citizens by teaching that motives and thoughts matter just as much as action. What?!

Jesus proceeds to break down the teaching into 6 examples:

Examples 1 & 2: Jesus address underlying attitudes and problems that cause the issue (vv. 21-26; vv. 27-30.)

Examples 3 & 4: Jesus expounds on Old Testament regulations that never should have occurred in the first place, but in order to provide safety, protection and for basic human needs...  (vv. 31-32; vv. 33-36)

Example 5:  Instead of using Old Testament judicial rulings for justification in retaliatory actions, Jesus explains that these rulings are applicable to personal ethics.  (vv. 38-42)

Example 6:  Jesus extends the principle of love beyond the Old Testament law (vv. 43-47).

Pages and pages could be written about each section of teaching.  But to not get lost or paralyzed as we read these words of Jesus, the best question to ask today is: "what is my one small step?"

A good friend named Rachel has been wrestling with these topics for a good many years.  She was gracious enough to share her thoughts in compiling a chart named: "Mission Light vs. Mission Deep."  Her goal was to help individuals and churches have concrete examples of how to drill down a little deeper in these relationships - http://bit.ly/2kXa0wH

At the end of the day, we recognize how heavy this text is, as we struggle to live into our identity, all the while confessing "every step is the way." Especially in reaching verse 48 - the epitome of summarizing "greater righteousness."  To be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect?  Impossible.  But Jesus doesn't let us off the hook.  Rather - bearing our sin, sickness, guilt, shame, the sin of others laid upon us - He carries them all to the cross, and declares victory with an empty tomb. The Kingdom of God is Now.

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